Windows 8 coming in October

After months of waiting and much speculation, Microsoft® has finally revealed that its Windows® 8 operating system will be available to the public by the end of October, InformationWeek reports.

Speaking at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto, Windows group CFO Tami Reller announced the operating system will first be available to manufacturers in the first week of August. Enterprises are expected to have access to the software sometime in August as well, according to the news provider.

The new operating system represents a bold, new direction for Microsoft. In addition to PCs like notebook and desktop computers, the software will operate on tablet computers as well, as Microsoft looks to get a bigger share of the rapidly growing mobile market.

The software will be available in four versions: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise and Windows RT, which is designed for tablets running on ARM-based processors. InformationWeek reports that current Windows users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99.

Windows 8 arrives at a time when the traditional PC market is struggling and mobile technology is thriving. Microsoft evidently has high expectations for both spaces, but it is not yet clear what the software's overall impact will look like.